Dental caries and extractions of permanent teeth in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

To determine the effect of tooth morphology and positioning on the occurrence of dental caries in permanent teeth. Design: Retrospective study. Method: Data was extracted from the case notes of patients that underwent extraction at the Plateau State Dental Centre, Jos, Nigeria from January 2000 to December 2001, as a result of dental caries and its sequalae. Result: 12696 patients attended the clinic, with a total of 11546-teeth extracted. 6145 (53.2%) permanent teeth were extracted due to caries and it's sequalae within the period under review. The upper anteriors accounted for 3.2%, premolars 7.7% and molars 29.8% while lower anteriors accounted for 0.4%, pre-molars 3.3% and molars 55.6%. The upper anteriors were eight times more vulnerable to caries attack compared to their corresponding lower anteriors. The upper right (43.3%) and left (36.9%) first premolars were four times prone to losses due to caries compared to their corresponding lower right (11.5%) and left (8.3%) first premolars. Similar pattern was observed for the upper and lower second premolar (P = 0.001). The lower right (31.3%) and left (31.3%) first molar were about two times more susceptible to caries than their corresponding upper right (18.2%) and left (19.2%) first molar. The same trend holds for the second and third molars (P = 0.000). Conclusion: The result of this study revealed that the upper premolars were more susceptible to dental caries than the corresponding lower teeth. The study also revealed that the molars were most susceptible to dental caries and would benefit from the use of prophylactic pits and fissure sealants.

Reasons and pattern of tooth mortality in a Nigerian Urban teaching hospital

“…Although the first molars extracted in all quadrants were 29.0%, this was not significantly different from the second molars (27.2%) extracted P > 0.05. However, previous studies from Nigeria recorded 41.6% 2 and 50%, [16] respectively. While a UAE study [15] reported extraction of upper molars more frequently than the lower molars in the study, our study shows that lower molars were extracted more than the upper molars.…”

Survey of the reasons for dental extraction in Eastern Nigeria

“…Likewise, some researchers[9–11] in other regions of Nigeria have also published their findings on reasons for teeth mortality. A critical scrutiny of these results shows that there have been considerable variations in their findings as regards the most important etiological factors responsible for teeth mortality.…”

“…[512] This may be due to transition from the customary fibrous diet to western diet. [9–11] These researchers have shown from their studies that the incidence of dental caries and periodontal diseases are on the increase as refined sugar, fruit drinks, and sweet have become readily available in Nigeria. Other reasons identified for extraction of teeth in this study have been reported earlier by other researchers.…”

“…The morphology, time of eruption, and positioning of tooth in the oral cavity confers an inherent disadvantage or advantage to the various methods employed in the control of plaque, and hence teeth decay and loss. [9] Also, the reason for decreased teeth mortality in the mandibular anterior region than in the maxillary component may be due to the close proximity of the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands duct in this part of the mouth, as their secretions help to buffer and cleanse the products of bacterial plaque. Retention of a complete dentition throughout life should be one of the main goals of the dental profession.…”

Clinical Study of Pit and Fissure Morphology and its Relationship with Caries Prevalence in Young Permanent First Molars

“…3,4 Moreover, permanent first molar extractions top the data for the rate and incidence of extractions as compared to other teeth. 5 Since the occlusal surface of young permanent first molars is susceptible to caries and the caries on these surfaces begin soon after the eruption, early sealing is indicated as suggested by Melgar et al 6 and supported by various other authors. [1][2][3][4][5] Traditionally epidemiologic indices have been proposed to evaluate variations in the incidence of new lesions and the progression of the existing dental lesions.…”